Freeser Carries Battered Bucs To 5-4 Victory; J-Bell Hurt

Ah, the first inning blues again - Ivan Nova served up a one-walk walk, double and Michael Conforto homered off a shin-high curve. That was followed with another knock before a DP ended the foray. The Pirates went 1-2-3 to Jason Vargas. The Mets were quiet in the second; the Bucs climbed back into contention with an Eli rap and Freeser bomb over The Notch. They also lost another player; J-Bell pulled up short running out a grounder and was swapped out, with S-Rod going to first and Fraze subbed into center. Ivan gave up another two-bagger in the third with no ill effects; Pittsburgh made not a peep. NY got a two-out knock for all their fourth inning noise. With one away, Eli and Freeser worked a knock/walk combo. An out later, another free pass jammed the sacks. Jordy lined a curve to left, but Conforto was there for the grab. The Mets got an off-the-mitt single in the fifth, but it still ended up an efficient eight pitch frame for Nova.

Arm like a shotgun in more ways than one... (image Pittsburgh Pirates)

J-Low worked a pro walk with one gone and Seth Lugo was beckoned from the pen. Gregory legged out a roller with two away and Eli showed a good eye in drawing another free pass. Freeser fell behind 0-2, laid off a couple of chase pitches and then singled up the middle to chase home two Buccos. Nova opened the sixth with a pair of walks. Edgar Santana came in after some more switching, with Red Beard now at third; Santana couldn't get an out a bunt and the Mets had the sacks juiced. He almost got out of it; after a K, a bad throw on a ball to left by J-Low let a run score - the runner had retreated, but the throw was airmailed to the backstop and it was still a close call at home. Tyler Bashlor climbed the slope and walked Jordy with an out. Colin Moran singled him to third and Luplow walked to pack the sacks. J-Hay hit the next pitch to second for an inning-killing 4-6-3 DP. Edgar tossed a quiet 10-pitch seventh, thanks to Luplow tossing out Wilmer Flores at second trying to stretch a single. Freeser walked but that was it in the Bucco half.

Freeser put the team on his back tonight (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Kyle Crick got the eighth inning call and was tapped for a leadoff knock. He bopped a batter with two outs without damage to the hitter or scoreboard. Jacob Rhame took the ball and was nicked for a one-down rap by Jordy. Lefty Jerry Blevins came on to face Red Beard; the count went full before Moran went down looking, frozen by a heater after a diet of hooks. Righty Anthony Swarzak was waved in to toss to J-Low, who swung through a high 3-2 fastball. Felipe Vazquez got the ninth and after two whiffs gave up an infield rap; a fly ball got him back in the dugout. Tim Peterson took the ball; J-Hay opened with a hustle hit to short. Gregory singled him to third and Eli was walked intentionally.The third time with the bases loaded was the charm; Freeser drilled a gapper to right center to RTJR.

Gutsy win with three starters out; Freeser was quite the ace in the hole tonight. Still, scrubs or not, the team needs to clean up the D behind the pitchers. As for Ivan, he walked three and two of the free passes were cashed in, plus giving up another long ball in a pretty flimsy outing. But this was a good win to bank; the Mets have deGrom taking the hill tomorrow and he's a beast.

Notes:

• Freeser had all five RBI and had three hits to go with two walks as he reached base in every appearance tonight. Eli was close behind with two knocks and two walks while Gregory added a pair of hits.
• J-Bell has "left side discomfort." Let's hope it's not an oblique. 

J-Bell is the latest to go down (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

• Tonight's crowd was 26,356 as attendance begins to pick up.
• Ivan continues to have long ball issues; he's given up 20 this year. He's not alone; Nick Kingham and the shelved Chad Kuhl also have big homer miseries.
• Clint said that Austin Meadows is a possibility for call up if Corey D hits the DL; he added there's been no decision made as the team MO is to give a player a couple of days to allow nagging injuries to heal; Dickerson believes he'll be ready for action soon..
• One less Met to worry about: The Phillies acquired Asdrubal Cabrera from NY for AA RHP Franklyn Kilomé, their #10 prospect. Should have made the deal yesterday; it might have saved the Pirates pitchers three hits, including a homer, and four RBI. Cabrera was lukewarmly thought of as a possible Pirates target.